A mistake by staff at the Zhabei Power Plant on Monday night led to the release of 45 tons of fuel into the Huangpu River, authorities said yesterday.

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The Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration said the pollution was contained yesterday morning.

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According to the administration, the spill occurred at about 9 PM on Monday at a dock of the Zhabei Power Plant.

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Maritime safety workers launch a cleanup operation yesterday after a mistake at Zhabei Power Plant let 45 tons of fuel spill into the Huangpu River. Authorities said the spill was under control.

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The accident was blamed on operators who failed to cut off fuel to a tanker ship once its storage tanks were full.

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Maritime authorities said they called in 14 cleanup ships to handle the emergency.

Three nearby tap water factories along the river - the Wusong, Zhabei, and Lingqiao tap-water mills - were told to supervise water sources after the accident and keep watch for possible contamination.

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Cleanup vessels were still cruising the river yesterday, and authorities explained the vessels will now focus on floating waste at a nearby dock.

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They said it would take some time to fully remove the oil and waste.

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(Shanghai Daily April 11, 2007)